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Louisville

2012 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

Louisville

Minerva Virola

The Louisville Division is pleased to honor Minerva Virola, a youth mentor and education advocate, as a recipient of the 2012 Director’s Community Leadership Award.

As an officer in the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department, Ms. Virola was assigned to conduct two Citizens Police Academy programs per year. However, she organized a much larger program that included seven different academies annually, for a total of 89 Citizens Police Academies with more than 2,000 attendees in seven years. To connect with the Hispanic community, Ms. Virola first developed a Latino Citizens Police Academy, which was then followed by an International Citizens Police Academy. To reach an even more diverse population, academies for the deaf and hearing impaired, women, youth, college students, and senior citizens were also offered.

Now retired, Ms. Virola is focused on a mentoring program that she developed to help girls aged 14 to 17 improve their academic performance. In 2012, she was excited to have two of her participants, both first-generation Americans, graduate from high school and go to college. Ms. Virola is also the host of a weekly radio program focused on educating the public and small business owners on how to navigate the complexities of county government.

In a ceremony at FBI Headquarters, Director Robert S. Mueller, III recognized the recipients of the 2012 Director’s Community Leadership Award. These leaders, selected by their area FBI field office, have demonstrated outstanding contributions to their local communities through service. The FBI is grateful for the work of each of these individuals and organizations on behalf of their communities.

“Whatever the motivation—an unfilled need, a tragic occurrence, a desire to give back—these are people who make things happen and enlist others in their cause,” said Director Mueller. “They are activists who have earned their prestige through good works.”